Fever looks for third straight win, hosts Danger
May 2, 2014 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Tri-Cities Fever News Release
The Tri-Cities Fever looks to continue its surge up the Intense Conference standingsSaturdaynight when it takes on the Nebraska Danger on Country Financial Field at the Toyota Center. Kickoff is7:05 p.m.
The Fever (3-5) has won two straight games after a slow start to the season and has entered back into the playoff discussion in the standings. However, to prove it belongs there, they need a marquee win, and they get the chance against the conference leading Danger (6-2).
The Danger, who played in the IFL title game a year ago, has won two straight games including an impressive record-setting 73-20 win over Wyoming last week.
In the win, Nebraska set franchise records for fewest yards allowed (98) and largest margin of victory (53). They also scored a franchise-best 37 points in the second quarter.
This is the second of two meetings between the Fever and Danger this season, with Nebraska winning 77-46 in the first meeting in mid-March.
In that game, the Fever fell behind early (21-0 in the first quarter), and could never recover. The Fever turned the ball over two times and allowed seven sacks.
But since that game a lot has changed as been evident by the Fever's past two games. Two weeks ago it was the offense with just enough defense that carried the Fever to a win at Green Bay. Last week, it was a lot of defense with just enough offense to beat Colorado 44-35. In that game, the Fever did not allow a touchdown until the fourth quarter.
Things have slowly started to fall in place for the Fever despite countless injuries that has forced coach Adam Shackleford into several make-shift lineups.
But through it all, Tri-Cities appears to be finding its rhythm. Quarterback Houston Lillard has settled in nicely after an 18-month stint away from the game. In his last two games, Lillard has completed 40 of 56 passes for 414 yards and 10 touchdowns, the form that made in him all-IFL in 2011 and 2012.
Last week, another key addition who helped the Fever to the back-to-back IFL championship appearances also returned. Steven Whitehead made his season debut catching five passes for 40 yards and a touchdown. Jackie Chambers, who got off to a fast start this season, is also back after battling some injuries. Last week, Chambers caught a team-high six passes for 85 yards and a touchdown.
The defense that allowed just 35 points against Colorado last week is in for another big test this week against the explosive Danger offense led by quarterback Jameel Sewell, who is the league's reigning most valuable player. Sewell has played in just five games this season, but is sixth in the league with 20 total touchdowns.
-- Tri-Cities ranks fourth in the league in scoring offense at 48.5 points per game, Nebraska is third at 48.9 points per game ... Nebraska has the league's top scoring defense allowing 34 points per game, Tri-Cities is seventh at 52.9 ... The Fever and Danger are tied for second in the league with 52 touchdowns scored ... The Fever ranks third in total offense (249.9 ypg), while the Danger is seventh at 224.8 ... Nebraska is first in total defense (207 ypg), Tri-Cities is eighth (259.5) ... Fever running back Keithon Flemming is second in scoring TDs with 12 ... Defensive back Donyae Coleman is tied for fourth with four interceptions, Lionell Singleton is eighth with three ... Singleton ranks sixth in the league with 53.5 tackles.
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Indoor Football League Stories from May 2, 2014
- SF Storm Hires Former Stampede President - Sioux Falls Storm
- Fever looks for third straight win, hosts Danger - Tri-Cities Fever
- Houston Lillard and Kyle Theret on Episode 11 of This Week In The IFL - IFL
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